Psalms 97:1-10

1 The LORD reigns; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof.

2 Clouds and darkness are round about him; righteousness and judgment are the seat of his throne.

3 A fire shall go before him and burn up his enemies round about.

4 His lightnings enlightened the world; the earth saw and trembled.

5 The mountains melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.

6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory.

7 Let all those that serve graven images be confounded, those that boast of idols; worship him, all ye gods.

8 Zion heard and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD.

9 For thou, O LORD, art high above all the earth; thou art exalted far above all gods.

10 Ye that love the LORD are to hate evil; he preserves the souls of his saints; he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked.

Psalms 97:1-10 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 97

This psalm is ascribed to David by the Septuagint, Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, and Ethiopic versions. It is of the same argument, and upon the same subject, as the preceding, the coming and kingdom of Christ; and that it respects his first coming into the world, when angels were called upon to worship him, appears from Ps 97:7 compared with Heb 1:6 though it is expressed in such language as seems to agree with his second coming; and, perhaps, both are included, with various things between the one and the other; or it respects the kingdom of Christ, from his first to his second coming; to which agrees the inscription of the Syriac version, which is

``a Psalm of David, in which he prophesies concerning the coming of the Messiah, and again he intimates in it his last appearance.''